Headlight-dimmer.



F. C. CHRISTENSEN L T. W. FULLER.

HEADLIGHT DIMMER;

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2. 19N.

aien'ed June 22, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

JW f* F. C.CHR1STENSEN & T. W. FULLER.

' HEADLIGHT DIMMER.

APPLICAHON HLED 1AN.2. 1914.

l @4:3961 l htented June 22, 1915,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MTA/55555 i 7 my.-. 9L m MM/Lf )dwdmwmvu 2 MM# ATTU/wflv/Ex all FREDERIK C. CIE-TRISTENSEN AND THEODORE W. FULLER, OERACINE, WISCGNSN.

nnAnLrGHr-ninivrna.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, MM5.

Application led January 2, 1914. Serial No. 809,836.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be'it known that we, FREDERIK C. CHRIS- fNenn and Tirnononn W. FULLER, citizens of ne United States, and residents of Racine, in the county of Racine and State of l/Visconsin, have invented new and useful lin# in Headlight-D1mmers, of which the following 1s adescription, referprovernents ence being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a :part of this specification.

This invention rela-tes to headlight dininiers and h@ jor-- its object to provide for diminishing the intensity of an electric headlight oi' an automobile or the like, with control at the dash or convenient to the driver so that on approaching' another vehicle or on enterin a town or city the lights maybe dimmed to avoid the intense direct rays of the light and substitute a subdued light sulicient for warning purposes.

With the above object in View the invention consists in aheadlight dimmer in which a tubular guard or shield is movable in the line of direction of the main rays of light from the headlight from a position in front of the electric lamp bulb to a position surrounding the same so as to intercept the rays of light from the lamp bulb to the reflector.

vWith the above and other objects in view .the invention consists in the headlight dirnmer as herein claimed and all equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in different views: Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a headlight constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the reliector and lamp portion thereof; 3 is a front View of such headlight with the glass broken away to show the interior; Fig. t is a vertical sectional view of a headlight showing a modified form of the dimmer of this invention; Fig. 5 is a detail front View of a portion thereof; and Fig. 6 is a detail rear View of the central portion of either form of the device.

ln these drawings 10 indicates a lamp oas ing of ordinary construction having the swinging door 'l1 as usual carrying the glass front 12 and 'the reflector 13. A wire 1li is stretched verticallyv across the front oi the .headlight just behind the glass 12 with its end connected to the edges of the reflector 13. A pair of guide Wires 15 are attached to this vertical wire 14 and extend rearwardly through the reflector 13, to which they are attached, one being above and 'the other being below the electric lamp bulb 16 which .is mounted in a tubular socket 17 at the center of the reiector as usual. A cylindrical guard or shieldy18 preferably consisting ot a covering of opaque or translucent inaterial, such as cloth, surrounding a coil spring framev 19 is slidablyinounted on the guide wires 15, as by having loops 20 prou jecting therefrom and surrounding the guide Wires, and a pair oi' coil springs 21 connect this guard or shield 18 with the vertical wire 14 so as to give it a tendency to remain in its outer position as shown in Fig, 2. A pair of wires 22 are also connected with the guard or shield 1S and pass rearwardly through the rellector 13 and. are

' attached respectively to a pair ot grooved pulleys 23 fixed on a shaft Q4- which is'journaled in a clamp Q5 surrounding the lamp socket 17 and iirmlv held in position thereon by inea-ns of a clamping bolt 2G. A, wrist pin 27 on one of thelgrooved pulleys 23 has a wire 98 connected to it and passing through the back of the casing 10 and then through an armored conduit 29 to any convenient position on the dash or wherever it will be within easy reach of the driver.

1n operation the guard or shieldwhen in its normal outer position, as shown in Fig. 2, does not materially alloct the brilliancy ci' the light, for the rays directly ahead pass through the guard and the guard is not in the path of the rays to the reflector, but when .it is desired to dini the light it is only necessary to pull on the wire 28 and thus turn the shaft Ql and draw the guard or shield to its inner position, as shown-in Fig. l, where it intercepts the'path of the rays tothe reflector and leaves only the direct rays eil'ective. The wire 28 may be fastened in any desirable manner in the position in which it holds the guard or shield in this position, but as soon as the Wire is released the springs Z1 return the guard orl shield to its outer position to rcstore the headlight to its full cli'cct.

ln the Inodiiication shown in Figs. Ll and 5 the guard or shield is provided with a closed end at its outer end which may be oi" the flexible material forming the covering, but when the covering of the guard or shield 18 is of opaque material this end 3() is preferably of a translucent material which All will allow ol' a suflicicnt ainount of'light to pass therethrough for ordinary city driving.

By means oit this invention the headlights of an automobile or a locomotive or an inter urliau train or 't'or any similar purpose may he instantly changz'ed from their' fnll light effect to their subdued effect so as to comply with city ordinances prohibiting the use ot strong headlights `within city limits and this change may he produced without stopping the. car.

What we claim as new and desire to eure by Letters .Patent is:

l. In a headlight or the like having an electric lamp and its reflector', a spring retracted tubular guard normally held ina position in front olf the electric light, and means tor drawing the guard to a position surrounding the electric lamp where it will intercept the rays of light to the reflector'.

2. ln a headlight or the like having an electric lamp and its reflector, a tubular guard movable axially ot the headlight from a. position Ain front o1" the electric light to a position surrouiuling the electric light where it intercepts thel rays of light to the reflector, and a translucent covering on the outer end of the Pguard.

3. 1n a headlight or ne like having an elect-ric lamp and its reflector, a wire stretched across the. reflector, a pair of parallel guide wires connecting said wire with the rellector, a ,tubular guard slidahly mounted on the guide wires, springs connecting the guard with the lirst mentioned wire for normally holding the guard in trout of the electric la'np, and means Yfor drawing the guard along the guide wires to a position where it surrounds the electric lamp and intercepts the rays of light to the` reflector'.

it. In a headlight or the like havingr an electric lamp and its reflector, a spring ret acted cylindrical guard suitably mounted to more from a position in front of tle electric lamp to a position where if surrounds the electric lamp and intercepts the rays ot light to the reflector, and means for moving the Lguard to the latter position` ecmprlsing Wires connected with the guard and passing through the reflector, a pair of grooved pulleys to which the wires are secured, a shaft larrying the groored pulleys, a clamp surrounding the lamp socket ai forming a support for the shaft, and means .fior turning the shaft.

`5. In a headlight or the like having an electric lamp and its reflector, a wire stretched across the front of. the lamp and connected to the edges of the reflector, a pair of parallel guide wires connected with the first mentioned wire and secured to the reflect-or, a tubular guard or .shield compris ing a coil spring with a covering haring projecting loops engaging the guide wires, springs connecting the guard or shield with the first mentioned wire, and means `for drawing the guard or shield along the guide wires to a position where it surrounds` the electric lamp and intercepts the rays of light` to the reflector.

6. In a headlight or the fil.; haring an electric lamp and its reflector, a wire stretched across the ieflccto' and eonnertcd to the edges thereot', a pair of pa rallcl guide wires connected with the first,` mentioned .wire and to fhe reflector, a tuhular guard or the guard or shield, a wrist pin on one ot the grocred pulleys, and a wire connected with the wrist pin lor turnlng the shaft to pull the guard or shield to a position where it surrounds the electric lamp ,and intercepts the rays ot light to the reflector.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERIK C. ClElRlWTENSEN. THEODORE Vi". FULLER.

lVi tnesses lfLona Pn'rnnsoN, NnLs CHnrs'rnNsEN. 

